Contact:  Meg Whalen, Director of Public Relations
E: megw@charlottesymphony.org
P: 704-714-5114
W: www.charlottesymphony.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                       March 2, 2011

Symphony Brings Party “Into the Park” for Spring Fundraiser
Art Supports Art in Partnership with Shain Gallery
Saturday, May 14 @ 6:30 p.m.
Symphony Park, SouthPark

The Charlotte Symphony presents “Into the Park,” a swinging dance and dinner party on the stage at Symphony Park on Saturday May 14, 2011 at 6:30 pm.  The Symphony has partnered with Shain Gallery to provide fine art for the event, with an exclusive preview of the newest works from artists Dennis Campay, Terry DeLapp, and Kim Schuessler.

The annual springtime fundraiser for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, “Into the Park” takes place center stage at beautiful Symphony Park, with cocktails, a seated dinner, and dancing, featuring the music of dance band Liquid Pleasure and jazz pianist Noel Freidline. The lower stage will serve as an art gallery for the evening to show off featured artists’ newest collections.

Representing Shain Gallery are three distinguished artists. Kim Schuessler’s art has received national attention, and gained even greater recognition when The Congressional Women’s Luncheon honoring Laura Bush chose one of her paintings for its invitations and programs.  She has many exhibitions to her credit, including dozens of sell-out shows, and her art is in several private and corporate collections, including that of Spanx Corporation and Niemann Marcus.

Terry DeLapp has had paintings in exhibits since the early 1980s, participating in both group and solo exhibitions. His works are in the San Diego Museum of Art and in several private collections, including that of Steve Martin and Robert Zmeckis.

Dennis Campay has been featured in Art & Antiques magazine and has permanent collections at several art museums, including the Morris Museum of Art and the Odgen Museum of Southern Art. In addition to having his works featured in private and corporate collections, Campay is also the founding member of the Advisory Board for the School of Art and Art History at the University of Florida.

Portions of the proceeds from sales of the artists’ paintings that evening will help support the many programs of the Charlotte Symphony. In addition, a live auction is set to take place, offering a host of wonderful prizes for guests to take home. Three masterpieces showcased by the Shain Gallery's featured artists, fabulous vacation getaways, a private dinner hosted by Symphony Executive Director Jonathan Martin and Music Director Christopher Warren-Green, and a reserved "Picnic in the Park" at a Summer Pops concert are just a few of many great items available for guests to bid on. All proceeds from the auction sales will support the Charlotte Symphony.

Tickets are $150. For more information, please call 704-714-5108.

The Charlotte Symphony is the largest performing arts organization in the Charlotte region. It employs more than 100 professional musicians, 62 on full-time contracts, and performs a broad spectrum of music, from Classics to Pops to Lollipops family concerts and the new KnightSounds series. The Charlotte Symphony also operates the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte and provides education programs to schoolchildren throughout the Charlotte region.
For more information, visit www.charlottesymphony.org.

Shain Gallery, located in Myers Park, is a long-time supporter of Charlotte’s cultural community, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past 10 years for charitable events such as “Into the Park.” For more information, please visit the gallery’s website: www.shaingallery.com.

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